Criminally Bad

Criminally Bad by Claire Sullivan is a darkly funny Australian true crime book about a cult-ish “ninja” crime gang that formed and fell apart in 1990s Tasmania. Set largely in Hobart, it follows a bizarre mix of dubious martial arts training, a scam religion, weapons and homemade explosives, and an extortion attempt that goes badly wrong. Sullivan, a journalist and comedian, draws on old evidence and fresh research to unpack how this group spiralled, while keeping a clear eye on the bigger questions underneath the chaos: power and friendship, free will, toxic masculinity, and the ways vulnerable people can be manipulated. It is completely true, frequently unbelievable, and not everyone makes it out alive. Useful additional information Author: Claire Sullivan